Unboxing My Latest Book Haul
Book Mail: A Roundup of the Book Mail I Received Last Week
The first week of October feels like a fresh page in a well-loved novel, and this week’s book mail made it feel downright magical. My TBR pile has blossomed into a cozy tower of possibilities, thanks to a book haul overflowing with new book releases that promise laughter, heartbreak, and everything in between. Each envelope carried thoughtful book recommendations, little whispers from fellow readers nudging me toward stories I can’t wait to devour. With so many titles that could easily be called the best books of 2025, it’s impossible not to feel that autumn has arrived just to make room for reading, tea, and that particular kind of joy only a stack of fresh books can bring.
Where to Buy These Books:
I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist.
What I Wore:
In the first week of October, as the season shifts into crisp mornings and golden afternoons, slipping into a natural-colored satin top paired with green pants feels like main character fashion at its finest—chic, intentional, and effortlessly elevated. Your everyday gold hoop earrings anchor the look with timeless ease, while your signature herringbone necklace layered with a graduated rope chain adds depth and shine, transforming the outfit into true main character clothing. As you flip through your latest stack of book mail, uncovering character-driven novels, books for self-discovery, and stories that inspire confidence, you can feel yourself embodying main character energy. This is main character aesthetic books and clothing in perfect harmony: fashion for self-expression paired with reading for inspiration. It’s not just an outfit or a stack of books—it’s living your main character life with intention, curating both wardrobe and bookshelf as tools for confidence, creativity, and joy.
This Week’s Book Mail Includes:
Dinner at the Library by Hika Harada: At The Night Library, where the books of the dead are cherished and meals inspired by literature are shared, one young woman discovers that saving this magical sanctuary might be the hardest story yet.
Save You by Mona Kasten: At Oxford, Ruby wants to forget James, but as love and heartbreak collide, he’ll stop at nothing to prove he deserves a second chance.
Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi: A ghostly manor, a stubborn author, and a grumpy actor spark a paranormal romance that’s both haunting and heart-melting.
Akiko's Quiet Happiness by Jan-Philipp Sendker: Reuniting with her first love leads Akiko into the shadows of her family’s past—and toward the courage to embrace love again.
Dust Storm by Maggie Gates: A hot-headed cowboy and a sharp-tongued outsider must survive living under one roof, but her engagement ring may be the biggest storm of all.
Leyla's House by Zulfu Livaneli: When an aristocrat loses her mansion, she discovers friendship and hidden family secrets in the beating heart of modern Istanbul.
Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne: A fake date, a Christmas wedding, and two hearts looking for home may turn a little white lie into true holiday magic.
Druid Cursed by C.J. Burright: Bound by a deadly prophecy, a cursed druid and a woman marked as his sacrifice fight destiny—and discover a love worth rewriting fate for.
When Santa Wrote Back! by Nathan Christopher: One boy’s over-the-top Christmas wish list sparks hilarious letters from Santa in this festive picture book about what truly matters.
Cluedle The Case of Rudolph's Revenge by Hartigan Browne: Crack festive puzzles and sleuth your way through a holiday whodunit in this interactive Christmas mystery adventure.
Love's a Witch by Tricia O'Malley: A cursed witch and a grumpy Scotsman must battle magic, mayhem, and each other in a cozy Scottish small-town romance.
Cape Fever by Nadia Davids: In a haunted 1920s mansion, a young maid and her eccentric employer form a dangerous bond that blurs the line between love, grief, and madness.
Burner and Other Stories by Katrina Denza: These sharp, funny, and poignant tales explore the messy beauty of women’s lives as they wrestle with love, loss, and modernity.
The Literati by Susan Coll: When her dream job at a literary nonprofit spirals into chaos, Clemi has three days to save the gala—and maybe her future.
Piece by Piece by Kim Danielson: After a burglary robs her of treasured heirlooms, one woman redefines legacy and memory in a moving memoir of loss and renewal.
How to Fake a Haunting by Christa Carmen: A desperate wife’s plan to scare her husband away spirals into real terror in this chilling tale of horror and survival.
Fun City Heist by Michael Kardos: A washed-up rockstar reunites his band for one last gig—and one outrageous heist—in this laugh-out-loud crime caper.
Strangers and Intimates by Tiffany Jenkins: A sweeping history of private life, this timely book warns of its erosion in today’s surveillance-driven, boundary-blurring world.
Exquisite Things by Abdi Nazemian: Spanning over a century, this epic queer love story follows immortal beloveds searching for the time and place where they truly belong.
It's time to Give a Feck by Chaz Ebert: Chaz Ebert calls us to transform empathy into action through the principles of Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness.
Everything About You by Robby Weber: In Paris, Milo is determined to win his dream fashion apprenticeship—until love threatens to unravel his perfect plans.
F*cked Up Fairy Tales by Liz Gotauco: Dark, hilarious, and bawdy retellings of the world’s strangest fairy tales expose the wild truths behind the stories we thought we knew.
Never Let a Unicorn Scribble! by Diane Alber: A little girl’s imagination—and her unicorn—prove that scribbling can create the most magical surprises.
Never Let a Unicorn Party! by Diane Alber: When a unicorn crashes a party, chaos turns into unexpected joy in this laugh-out-loud tale of positivity.
Never Let a Unicorn Wear a Tutu! by Diane Alber: Curiosity and creativity collide when a girl wonders what will happen if her unicorn puts on a tutu.
Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi: A young woman’s fiery bond with Lucifer reveals her hidden power and sparks a battle that could topple Heaven and Hell.
A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver: Meet Lalla Rook: a wife, mother, and multitasker who adds murder and mayhem to her daily to-do list.
The Emperor's Twin by Honey Watson: In a crumbling empire overrun by invaders and gods, one reluctant twin must decide whether survival is worth unleashing the divine.
You are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson: Step into 1933 London and crack an impossible locked-room murder in this witty interactive mystery.
The Highly Sensitive Rabbit by Judith Orloff: A gentle rabbit learns that sensitivity is a strength in this heartwarming picture book about kindness and self-care.
